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During this time of social isolation, The Drag explores all the ways people are finding community and comfort online.
In this pilot episode of a series about Greek life at UT, Data Dives host Carolyn Parmer gives an overview of the university’s sororities and fraternities with a focus on the two largest governing bodies: the University Panhellenic Council and the Interfraternity Council. Whether you can name every Greek organization or remain baffled by this institution, this episode will help you understand what it’s like to join it.
Boutique studios and fitness classes are popular, but what do they actually have to offer? Sofia
Vargas Karam sits down with Lindsay Howe Ruth and Laura Gilhman-Jones to explore the
benefits of fitness classes, how they became instructors and most importantly, how they've built a community from it. They'll talk about how fitness isn't just about sweating it out; it's about making real connections, feeling empowered, and finding some lifelong friends along the way.
If you’ve ever sat through an elementary science class, you’ve probably learned about monarch
butterflies – their obsession with milkweed, stages of metamorphosis, and annual migration. But how does this migration actually play out in today’s industrialized world? Host Sara Kinney
walks through all the struggles these little creatures face on their annual journey southward and
talks to one group, called Monarch Watch, that is currently trying to help them on their path.
Pigeons. They’re everywhere. Surely they can’t be endangered. Right? Right…?
Delve into the feathery world of our neighborhood fowl with Olivia Dilley as she breaks down everything about the wild world of pigeons and why we should care about them. In this episode, we hear from Joe Wood, co-chair of the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Pigeon and Dove Specialist Group, as he tells us about the wonders of pigeons and the things that threaten their very existence. We’ll also hear from Hayley Hudnall, executive director of Austin Wildlife Rescue in Austin, TX, as she tells us about the woes of pigeons in America and why people dislike the “rats of the bird world.”
For generations, German descendants have carried on their traditional language and cultural
practices. But as the last speakers die out, so does the language. In this episode, Molly-Jo Tilton explores the various groups keeping these traditions alive.
Before entering college, expectations and a vision of college life are conveyed through interactions with movies and the media. But what happens when those expectations aren’t met and things go differently? Miriam Belmonte tells her story, along with Guido Peluffo’s, about a side of college that goes untold.
In growing cities like Austin, Texas, neighborhood development is a hot topic of conversation — new high-rise apartments and retail options appear in what feels like each week. In the midst of this urban growth, a less concrete addition to neighborhoods is gaining popularity: community gardens. Shared gardening can foster community, promote sustainability and provide emotional support, and many garden enthusiasts are advocating for more of these spaces in growing cities. In this episode from Sarah Brager, you’ll hear from college students who eagerly await workdays in their community garden, and a longtime Austin resident who’s been cultivating her plot for decades, to learn why they chose to get their hands dirty each week.
Bring your grocery bags and roll in the shopping carts because in this episode, we’ll be delving
into how international grocery stores can serve as safe havens for those who seek out cultural
communities. From the experiences of a young girl transitioning from the Philippines to America
because of political tensions, to a Japanese woman moving to San Diego for her love of the
ocean, each journey tells a story of longing, love, acceptance and community.
In this special episode from Data Dives, host Carolyn Parmer explains the existing mental health services and barriers to these resources at UT.
Four of The Drag's graduating seniors -- Leni Steinhardt, Tamara Rodriguez, Mackenzie Matwick and Heather Stewart -- share their goodbyes to The Drag and UT.
Health and wellness company Botanic Tonics has become one of the largest brands to
specialize in kratom-based drinks with their popular Feel Free tonic. However, Feel Free tonics
are marketed and labeled as “sober-alternatives”. Since 2020, Botanic Tonics has grown to
become the official sponsor of multiple college sports teams, including The University of Texas
at Austin. In this episode, Hope Gullatt looks into the misleading promotion of kratom and its
long lasting effects on the brain.
Matthew Held, Kaiya Little, and Ella Barnes all have something in common: Inanimate objects. They’ve all got a special connection to their possessions. For Matt, it’s hunting knives. For Kaiya, it’s a dream catcher. Ella, who hosts this episode, explores these connections we have with inanimate objects – inspired by her love for her grandparents’ dark side of the moon vinyl.
Being stuck on a highway during rush hour traffic is no one’s idea of a good time, but adding more lanes should help. Right? The Texas Department of Transportation is currently expanding the section of I-35 that runs through Austin, TX, which might sound like a good thing. But adding more lanes actually just makes traffic worse over time. So why do we keep doing it? And what’s the alternative? Aislyn Gaddis talks to a political satire TikToker and two local advocacy groups — Rethink35 and Reconnect Austin — to try and find out.
SHOW NOTES
Walkable neighborhoods provide health, environmental and financial benefits - The Washington Post
Can Removing Highways Fix America’s Cities? - The New York Times
Whether you’re an avid reader or haven’t finished a book since high school, chances are you’ve seen books with the words “a New York Times Best Seller” on the cover. Have you ever wondered what it takes to earn this stamp of approval, or why so many books are somehow No. 1 best sellers? In this special episode from Data Dives, host Carolyn Parmer explains the complicated process of how the Times constructs its best-seller lists — what the public knows about it, that is.
Introducing a new series from The Drag: "Forsaken."
"Forsaken" is a series that explores the systems that both enhance and oppress the lives of the more than 29 million people living in Texas. Each episode will address issues that Texans face each day – the good and the bad. We’ll explore the criminal justice system, Texas politics, civil rights, social issues and even a little bit of history. Texas is the second-most diverse state in the nation and has equally diverse stories to tell. As the legendary late Texas singer Billy Joe Shaver sings: “You fathers and you mothers / Be good to one another / Please try to raise your children right / Don’t let the darkness take ‘em / Don’t make ‘em feel forsaken / Just lead ‘em safely to the light.”
The first two episodes of "Forsaken" drop Thursday, March 7.
Follow "Forsaken" on:
- Apple Podcasts
- Spotify
- Or your favorite podcasting app!
This season features stories from the May 2023 Travel Podcasting class at the University of Texas at Austin.
You’ve probably heard Austin referred to as the live music capital of the world, but where should you actually go to hear some live music? Madison Myers and Molly-Jo Tilton highlight a few of Austin’s more intimate music venues. Ryan Olszewski and Carolyn Parmer highlight an off-the-beaten path live music spot. Heather Stewart and Sofia Vargas Karam look at places to hear electronic music in Austin.
This season features stories from the May 2023 Travel Podcasting class at the University of Texas at Austin.
In today’s episode, we’re talking about some general travel tips if you’re visiting Austin. Kevin Baskar and Carolyn Parmer highlight things to do near the University of Texas campus, if you find yourself in our neck of the woods. Christy Crawford and Sofia Vargas Karam give you tips on where to go if you’re traveling with your dog. And Paula Levin-Coon and Madison Myers talk about two unique ways to get around town – pedicabs and ebikes.
This season features stories from the May 2023 Travel Podcasting class at the University of Texas at Austin.
In today’s episode, we’re talking about everyone's favorite topicL Food. Dacia Garcia and Kylie Miller try some of Austin’s best burger joints. Mackenzie Matwick and Molly-Jo Tilton explore Tex-Mex spots in Austin. Ry Olszewski and Miles Oshan highlight coffee shops, and Heather Stewart and Amaris Ovalle visit a unique bakery near the University of Texas campus.
This season will feature stories from the May 2023 Travel Podcasting class at UT Austin.
In today’s episode, we’re sharing stories about places to shop while you’re visiting Austin. Amaris Ovalle and Dacia Garcia take us to some of Austin’s top record stores. Mackenzie Matwick, Sofia Vargas Karam and Madison Myers get outfitted in their Western best along South Congress avenue. Miles Oshan highlights Exploded Records, a unique record store in Austin. Carolyn Parmer and Kylie Miller highlight some of Austin’s top bookstores.
This season features stories from the May 2023 Travel Podcasting class at the University of Texas at Austin.
In this special season highlighting tourist tips in Austin, we’re talking museums on today’s episode. Heather Stewart and Christy Crawford take us to the Thinkery, Austin’s children’s museum. Kevin Baskar and Molly-Jo Tilton give us an audio tour of the Texas Capitol and the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum. Paula Levin-Coon and Ry Olszewski visit some of Austin’s iconic murals.
This season features stories from the May 2023 Travel Podcasting class at the University of Texas at Austin.
This episode is all about the great outdoors. You’ll hear Kevin Baskar and Miles Oshan take us on a journey along Barton Creek Greenbelt. Mackenzie Matwick and Dacia Garcia spend a day along Barton Springs Road – yes, there are a lot of things named “Barton” in this city. Christy Crawford and Paula Levin-Coon take a ride on a riverboat to see Austin’s iconic bat colony. And Ky Miller and Amaris Ovalle visit the Zilker Botanical Gardens and the Austin Nature Center.
Cheerleaders are a staple of American culture. Any high school slice-of-life movie will tell you
that the girls in the cheer squad are on top of the suburban ruling class. When you get pro, the
stakes, glamor, fame and scandal get even higher. The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders are
world-class performers who have solidified themselves as the pinnacle of cheer excellence.
Their iconic uniform is symbolic of American sex appeal, and they have integrated themselves
into every part of pop culture, from TV shows to brand deals; they’ve done it all. But, however
prominent the squad is in our culture, how much do we really know about the reigning queens of the field? A journalism student at the University of Texas at Austin and a Dallas native, Sonali
Menon will dive into everything cheer: the history of the team, their scandals, the infamous
Making The Team reality TV show, and the greater implications of what it means to be a woman
in the public eye.
In this episode, Celia Sampaio interviews Dress Warm, a young band taking the Austin music scene by storm. They discuss their plans to spread their indie pop sound and how that sound came together. Listen along to hear their charming laughs, quips, and jokes, and maybe even become the newest fan of Dress Warm.
Everybody loves bread. Texans are no different.
Since humans first started cultivating wheat in the Fertile crescent 10,000 years ago, bread
developed from an agricultural anomaly to a mainstay of the European diet to the sort of bread
at your local grocery store. Today, bread is the unseen lifeblood of our communities, and our
recipes transcend this evolution, preserving history in their every bite.
Texas’s top breads — Pan Dulce, Pan De Campo, and the like — retain an intrinsic Texas story.
In this episode, UT junior Zoe Tzanis buckles up and traverses the Texas landscape in search of
the most iconic Texas breads. They explore the role of bread in the immigration, some of
Texas’s oldest bakeries, and the recipe behind Texas’s official state bread.
In this episode, Avery Hough investigates the most notorious legend of Dallas: the lady of White Rock Lake. Join her as she dives deep into the lake's history and hauntings and goes ghost-hunting herself with paranormal investigators.
In this special bonus episode, we’re sharing an episode of Data Dives! Data Dives is part of the Media Innovation Group under The Dallas Morning News Journalism Innovation Endowment. This episode is hosted by Carolyn Parmer and produced and edited by Aislyn Gaddis, two journalism students here at UT Austin. For this episode, they dove into the numbers behind a topic near and dear to my heart: Taylor Swift. Enjoy this bonus episode ahead of 1989 Taylor’s Version, which comes out tomorrow!
The city of Austin is known for its extensive urban tree canopy, and that canopy continues to
grow thanks to the work of the nonprofit TreeFolks. In this episode, Keaton Peters talks to TreeFolks – and some of the folks they help out – about their work. Planting trees is also part of the City of Austin’s Climate Equity Plan, which relies on purchasing carbon credits, but carbon credits are a controversial method of dealing with climate change.
When influencer Jenna Palek moved to Austin, Texas, she was stuck in a boring routine. To get out of her funk, she decided to start Fun on Weekdays, a movement that grew from a podcast to a Facebook group to a full-scale event planning organization. She hosted an event in Austin, and one year later, Palek has hired a full time staff and expanded the events to other cities. Sophia Navarro talks to Palek about her plans to expand her brand – and to have more fun on weekdays.
Between July 2021 and June 2022, Texas banned 801 books in 22 school districts, according to a report from PEN America, a nonprofit fighting to protect free expression. This neverending battle against books has affected authors, librarians, teachers, and students. One of those books affected by the state’s bans is the 2015 novel “Out of Darkness” by Ashley Hope Pérez. Since 2021, Pérez has lost opportunities to connect with young readers at school book readings. For Tim Staley of the Austin Public Library Foundation and the PEN America Austin chapter, book bans also restrict people’s ability to understand the world around them. Bookseller Gilbert Hernandez of Búho in Brownsville established the first independent bookstore in his hometown to build a socially and intellectually enriching space in his community and combat book bans in the Lone Star state.
In this episode, Marissa Greene explores the rich history and delicious flavors of kolache and klobasniky, staples in Texas cuisine, and she’ll help you sift through the history of how Czech immigrants came to settle in Texas and brought their sweet and savory culinary traditions with them. Throughout the episode, you’ll also hear stories from family-owned or historic bakeries in Czech hotspots such as West, Houston, and Fate, Texas. So if you’re a foodie, history buff, or just a lover of all things sweet or savory, join us for a road trip around Texas to learn more about the cultural roots behind one of Texas’ most beloved breakfast foods.
Most people only head to Brownsville, Texas for a beach day or...to visit the SpaceX launch site. But, have you ever stopped to think about how SpaceX is really affecting the small town, or what else it has to offer? Rio Grande Valley native Dacia Garcia reminisces about her hometown cutlture and talks to locals about the new developments.
At a church in South Austin, a vending machine stocks something much more vital than snacks: Narcan, a medication that can reverse an opioid overdose. This is the story of the movement that brought the first Narcan machine to Austin and how the city is tackling the national opioid epidemic, told by its leading harm reduction strategists.
In 1991, Austin, Texas was named the “Live Music Capital of the World”. Since then, legends like Willie Nelson and Stevie Ray Vaughan helped the city grow into a hotspot for Texas art and culture. But today, many of Austin's iconic music venues have gone out of business, and
festivals like Austin City Limits threaten to commercialize a once authentic scene. In this episode by Madi Esmailbeigi, we hear from local artists about the glorious past and not-so-certain future of Austin's music industry.
For centuries, Indigenous communities have turned to plant medicine for spiritual and physical healing. But what happens when the earth is out of sync? Flowers don’t bloom when they’re supposed to, plants go extinct and temperatures become deadly. In this episode from Elisabeth Jimenez, listen to Marika Alvarado, a Lipan Apache Medicine Woman, talk about the challenges posed by climate change, as well as the power — and necessity — of having hope.
Need to learn an easy sport to play on he weekends? Pickleball might just be the sport for you. Among young Austinites, this oddly-named ballgame has gained incredible popularity for it's simplistic rules and low-impact gameplay. Miranda Cazares explores the infatuation behind Pickleball and how its become the country's fastest-growing sport.
In 2024, UT's Texas Longhorn football team will make an historic entrance into the SEC conference. For this epsisode, Alexandra Whitlock goes down memory lane to learn where the team came from and where it’s going.
In the slew of music venues throughout Austin's history, Liberty Lunch stands out. After the closure of the iconic hippie music hall, Armadillo World Headquarters, Liberty Lunch became the new hub for free spirits and punk rockers alike throughout the 80s and 90s. Despite closing in 1999, its memory still lives on in the hearts and minds of its former patrons. In this episode, Isabella Van Trease retells their stories of love, loss and music.
When you think of Austin,Texas, you probably think of its lively music and film scene, but in recent years, its also become the capitol of standup comedy. Folks from around the country are flocking to the city's open mic nights with the hopes of kickstarting their comedy careers. In this episode by Bella Rose Mortel, you’ll hear stories from some of Austin's funniest people, and how the explosive growth is affecting their lives on and offstage.
For the skaters in the Texas Roller Derby league, rollerskating is more than a hobby -- it’s a way of life. Carly Rose talked with veteran skaters of the Austin-based league to learn how the sport offers them a space for self-expression and a way to defy gender expectations.
In this episode, Carter Yates tells the story of a beloved University of Texas student hangout.
Since opening in 1991, the Cain and Abel’s bar became synonymous with the West Campus student neighborhood nestled a block away from the University of Texas. Generations of UT upperclassmen flooded through the doors. Most drank their fair share of beers while unwinding with their closest friends, a handful found their significant others before graduating and a select few got the logo tattooed on their ass. The one-story building that holds these memories, however, will soon be bulldozed in favor of a luxury student high-rise apartment, yet another of the 50-plus construction projects that have sprouted in the student neighborhood since 2004. Cain and Abel’s is the final domino to fall in West Campus’s transformation from a funky college atmosphere to another neighborhood in a generic big city. A decades-long push of privatization in a booming Austin market economy finally gained the power to topple UT’s favorite bar. But there’s a place like Cain and Abel’s in every college town, and the simple process used by private developers in Austin can easily be replicated elsewhere. And, for what it’s worth, Carter reported and produced this story in the fall of 2022. Since he finished his project, Cain and Abel’s announced they’re staying in west campus and moving to a building a few blocks away from the original location.
If you ever need your day brightened exponentially, all you have to do is visit the crosswalk at Whitis Ave and 24th St. Here, a UT Austin crossing guard, Mike Shaw, shares his words of wisedom, joy, and fistbumps with students passing by each day. Maren Bennett sat down with Shaw to learn more about one of the most beloved university employees.
Request Pending is now The Drag: Stories.
In this podcast, you’ll hear episodes produced by students at the University of Texas at Austin. But it’s a little different than what you might be used to hearing from The Drag.
Each episode will bring you a different story, from a different student. Most of these stories will come from students in a podcast production class at UT Austin, which means you’ll get a little bit of everything, from Texas’ tallest tales to Texas’ biggest personalities.
Drag artists have displayed their art through lip sync performances and dance numbers in night clubs and bars for decades. Now their usual venues have closed due to the pandemic, and drag artists are finding other ways to express their creativity and maintain their livelihood.
This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
One of the hottest meme Facebook groups right now is about...trains. Yes, trains. New Urbanist Memes for Transit Oriented Teens has over 200,000 members, and posts range from comics to pictures of high-speed trains to discourse over the importance of bike lanes. Issues around transit and urban spaces hardly make it to the national debate topic list, but on the internet, they’re center stage. Why do young people care, and how is city planning changing under their influence?
This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
They say sex work is the oldest profession, and over generations, it has evolved and taken on new forms. Its latest iteration: Onlyfans. On Onlyfans, creators sell and users pay for access to original, independently made pornographic content. Sex workers are making big money from behind a computer or phone screen and often find a sense of empowerment in the process.
This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
This week, the Request Pending crew explores a very big question: deep sea or deep space? Executive producer Haley Butler offers her stance and explains why her love for the deep sea goes deeper than a fascination with octopi and submarines.
This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
How can you help the environment, make friends and furnish your house without spending any money? Join your local Buy Nothing Facebook group. The Buy Nothing Project is a global network of hyper-local gift economies. All you have to do is find a group near you and start posting.
This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
Look at the trending podcasts on any streaming app, and odds are there is at least one true crime series topping the charts. These tales of horrifying violence, conniving killers, and kindhearted victims who didn’t see it coming inspire shock and interest across the internet, and the audience is notably female. Podcasts like Crime Junkie and My Favorite Murder use discussion and comedy to give women a safe space to confront their fears. Other podcasts like Dr. Death and Serial take a more journalistic approach to covering these stories. How can we consume and create these stories with sensitivity? Featuring Haley Butler and Tinu Thomas, hosts of The Orange Tree podcast.
This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
Common etiquette bans three topics at the dinner table: politics, religion, and money. But women on the internet are breaking one of those rules in a big way, with Refinery29’s Money Diaries. Women post weekly journals documenting their salary, monthly expenses and daily expenditures. It’s a great way to empower women with finance knowledge, but it also scratches the itch everyone has to peer into people’s personal lives.
This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
ASMR? Is that when people eat with their mouths open on YouTube? Sometimes, but not really. ASMR, or autonomous sensory meridian response, is the euphoric sensation that arises from certain relaxing sounds or visuals, and an entire online world has risen from it. Viewers and creators use ASMR to relieve anxiety, fall asleep and feel a sense of community, while facing stigma and misunderstanding from others who don’t experience the sensation.
Featuring ASMR creations from Gentle Whispering ASMR, Goodnight Moon, Bluewhisper, Massage ASMR, Behind the Moons, LovelyVirus and Equal ASMR.
This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
Young people’s latest fantasies aren’t about fame and fortune. They’re about the tranquility and simplicity of a small cottage in the woods with a lot of books to read, bread to bake and raised garden beds to tend. But they aren’t fulfilling this fantasy by moving out to the country — they’re going online. Request Pending host Sara Schleede explores the internet’s latest aesthetic trend, “cottagecore,” and the ethical implications of these pastoral daydreams.
This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
Don’t worry. You’re not the only one who has been spending a lot of time on the internet lately. Request Pending follows our host, Sara Schleede, as she explores the wackiest and most thought-provoking online communities. Stay tuned for the first episode coming this summer.